Any suggestions on an embroidery machine?
 

I would really like to have an embroidery machine that would allow me to design my own things and then embroider them. The machine I have is an old outdated Viking 1+ with embroidery but while it will do a few little things, it's not capable to do the things I want to do.

So, I was tempted by a new Viking sewing machine with embroidery. The extra designing component would add to the cost and I'm not ready to spend $9000 at the moment.... maybe later in the year. A friend told me I should be looking for an embroidery machine and not a combination one. I haven't looked at those. I have plenty of sewing machines and don't really need something to sew with. So here is my question......

Would it be better to look for an embroidery only machine? If so, what brands do you suggest I look at?

Or, should I still be looking at a sewing/embroidery combination machine? I'm pretty sure I'd want a Viking if that's the case.

Thanks for your help. I need to start doing some research so I'll be ready to purchase when I can let that amount of money go for a new machine.

My friend that got me interested in machine embroidery has the same machine as you. She has given up on machine embroidery. My first HV machine was a Designer 1 - still have it. Think it was 10 years later when I bought my Designer Diamond - still have it. Bought the Designer EPIC a year after it was introduced. Love all of them. Have upgraded my embroidery software as new software has been introduced. Know that HV makes embroidery only machines; however, love the new features on the combination sewing/embroidery machines.

Are you talking about digitizing your own designs or designing your own layout? Designing your own layout can be done on any embroidery machine that has merging capabilities. Digitizing is not something a machine can do, you would need to learn how to digitize and have the software to do that. There are some software programs that do auto digitizing but the results are not that great.

Janome embroidery only machines are very good. I would check them out. There are different levels of software out there, you don't have to get the big programs if you are pretty sure you will not use all of those features. A dealer should be able to help you figure out what you need.

I've only been embroidering for a few years, but early on decided I wanted to create my own designs using my own artwork. My machine came with IQ Designer that does quite a bit including being able to scan in designs, but I wanted even more control so bought Floriani's Total Control U. I also bought Sketch to Stitch which is software that will convert line drawings to embroidery. I have a lot of pencil drawings that I'm going to convert so I can stitch them out.

I purchased a couple good digitizing software packages to make my own designs. I also make my quilt labels from a design I digitized. The software is sold separately. There are millions of designs available and I love the ability to change from one format to another. I do not have an expensive machine. The digitizing software makes it possible to divide larger designs into sections so I can make my in expensive Brothers do just about any design I choose.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. The brothers machines are workhorses! If the machine fails after several years of working continuously, buy another and then another and then another one each time new models with more upgrades. You are still ahead of the game. How much money do you want to save. Oh another things many software packages offer free upgrades.

Here is how I think it out. Software about $500. Inexpensive brothers embroidery machine under $400. Compare to $9000. Results and satisfaction to be able to do it all... priceless.

I like the Brother and Babylock brands, inexpensive and definitely workhorses. My suggestion is to buy an embroidery only machine. You have sewing machines, you can sew while your embroidering machine is stitching out the design. Most machines have a lot of capabilities but if you want to digitize and create your own designs you will need to purchase software to do that. My suggestion for software is Embrillance, it is inexpensive and sold in modules. You can purchase the basic program and then as you decide what you want to do you can buy the modules. embrillance.com is their website, take a look and see what you think. If you sign up for their e-mails you will get coupons, not a bunch of junk mail or spam.

It depends on how much you want to spend. It is a lot cheaper to buy digitizing software to create your own designs then transfer them to your machine rather than buying a machine that you can create designs on and stitch it out.

I have a Bablylock Destiny2 and you can create designs with it and stitch them out too, but it costs about the same as a small car. I don't use it to work with designs...create, resize, change color, set density etc....becaue I prefer to use the big screen on my computer's monitor so I can see everything as large as I want instead of the small sewing machine screen. I also find the computer software is easier to use the computer in the sewing machine. I use EMbird's software, but there are many others out there.

Pfaff girl here. I traded my Creative Sensation Pro for the and I love it! This machine has everything on it I can think of. The software allows you to digitize your own designs if you want to.